§1.31.1οἱ δὲ Καρχηδόνιοι μικρῷ μὲν πρότερον κατὰ θάλατταν, τότε δὲ κατὰ γῆν ἐπταικότες, οὐ διὰ τὴν τῶν πολλῶν ἀνανδρίαν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν τῶν ἡγουμένων ἀβουλίαν, κατὰ πάντα τρόπον ἐνεπεπτώκεισαν εἰς δυσχερῆ διάθεσιν.
The Carthaginians, having met with defeat a short time before at sea, and now on land, not through the cowardice of the multitude, but through the lack of judgment of their leaders, had fallen in every way into a difficult situation.
§1.31.2ἅμα γὰρ τοῖς προειρημένοις καὶ τὸ τῶν Νομάδων ἔθνος συνεπιτιθέμενον αὐτοῖς οὐκ ἐλάττω, πλείω δὲ τῶν Ῥωμαίων εἰργάζετο κακὰ τὴν χώραν.
For at the same time as the aforementioned events, the nation of the Numidians also attacked them together, and caused no less, but even more damage to the country than the Romans.
§1.31.3ἐξ ὧν διὰ τὸν φόβον συμφευγόντων εἰς τὴν πόλιν τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς χώρας δυσθυμία καὶ λιμὸς ἦν ὁλοσχερής, τὰ μὲν διὰ τὸ πλῆθος, τὰ δὲ διὰ τὴν προσδοκίαν τῆς πολιορκίας.
As a result of this, because those from the country fled together into the city out of fear, there was extreme despondency and a complete famine, partly owing to the multitude of people, and partly owing to the expectation of a siege.
§1.31.4ὁ δὲ Μάρκος ὁρῶν τοὺς Καρχηδονίους καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν ἐσφαλμένους καὶ νομίζων ὅσον οὔπω κρατήσειν τῆς πόλεως, ἀγωνιῶν δὲ μὴ συμβῇ τὸν ἐπιπαραγινόμενον στρατηγὸν ἐκ τῆς Ῥώμης φθάσαντα τὴν ἐπιγραφὴν τῶν πραγμάτων λαβεῖν, προυκαλεῖτο τοὺς Καρχηδονίους εἰς διαλύσεις.
Marcus, seeing that the Carthaginians had failed both on land and at sea, and believing that he would capture the city any moment, but being anxious lest the general coming after him from Rome should arrive first and take the credit for the achievements, invited the Carthaginians to make terms.
§1.31.5οἱ δʼ ἀσμένως ἀκούσαντες ἐξέπεμψαν αὑτῶν τοὺς πρώτους ἄνδρας· οἳ καὶ συμμίξαντες αὐτῷ τοσοῦτον ἀπέσχον τοῦ ῥέπειν ταῖς γνώμαις ἐπὶ τὸ ποιεῖν τι τῶν λεγομένων ὥστʼ οὐδʼ ἀκούοντες ὑπομένειν ἐδύναντο τὸ βάρος τῶν ἐπιταγμάτων.
They heard this gladly and sent their leading men; and these, when they met him, were so far from having their minds inclined to perform any of the demands made of them, that they could not even bear to listen to the severity of the injunctions.
§1.31.6ὁ μὲν γὰρ Μάρκος ὡς ἤδη κεκρατηκὼς τῶν ὅλων, ὅ,τι ποτὲ συνεχώρει, πᾶν ᾤετο δεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐν χάριτι καὶ δωρεᾷ λαμβάνειν· §1.31.7οἱ δὲ Καρχηδόνιοι θεωροῦντες ὅτι καὶ γενομένοις αὐτοῖς ὑποχειρίοις οὐδὲν ἂν συνεξακολουθήσαι βαρύτερον τῶν τότε προσταγμάτων, οὐ μόνον δυσαρεστήσαντες τοῖς προτεινομένοις ἐπανῆλθον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσκόψαντες τῇ βαρύτητι τοῦ Μάρκου.
For Marcus, as if he had already completely conquered them, thought that whatever he conceded, they ought to receive as a favor and a gift; but the Carthaginians, seeing that even if they became subject to him, nothing more severe could follow than the present demands, returned not only displeased with the proposals, but also offended by the arrogance of Marcus.
§1.31.8τὸ δὲ συνέδριον τῶν Καρχηδονίων διακοῦσαν τὰ προτεινόμενα παρὰ τοῦ στρατηγοῦ τῶν Ῥωμαίων, καίπερ σχεδὸν ἀπεγνωκὸς τὰς τῆς σωτηρίας ἐλπίδας, ὅμως οὕτως ἀνδρωδῶς ἔστη καὶ γενναίως ὥστε πᾶν ὑπομένειν εἵλετο καὶ παντὸς ἔργου καὶ καιροῦ πεῖραν λαμβάνειν ἐφʼ ᾧ μηδὲν ἀγεννὲς μηδʼ ἀνάξιον τῶν πρὸ τοῦ πράξεων ὑπομεῖναι.
And the senate of the Carthaginians, when they heard in detail the proposals made by the Roman general, although they had almost abandoned all hope of safety, nevertheless stood so manfully and noble that they chose to endure anything and to make trial of every deed and opportunity, on the condition of submitting to nothing base or unworthy of their past achievements.